For decades, the Super Bowl has been an important part of American culture. People prepare weeks in advance for this sacred sporting event, and planning the guest list, decorating with team paraphernalia and buying outrageous snacks are all to be expected.
However, there’s no doubt that if people were to do this for the premiere for a new season of “Vanderpump Rules,” they would certainly be made fun of. It’s no secret that our society has a problem with double standards when it comes to entertainment.
Things enjoyed predominantly by women are often met with condescension. Whether it’s chick flicks, boy bands or reality television, their fans have certainly gotten grief for it. Anybody who has ever tuned into the TLC hit “90 Day Fiancé” knows it’s not always classy. Nevertheless, it is not as if intense action movies or sports games aren’t frivolous too. The only difference is who enjoys it.
Media aimed at men does not get the same ridicule as media aimed at women, regardless of its sophistication. Women’s entertainment is put down simply because it does not cater to men.
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is an iconic branch of the “Real Housewives” franchise. Though others might see it as a bunch of rich women fighting, it is much more than that. When you look past the drama, the “Real Housewives” franchise is really about sisterhood. What other show centers on affluent and successful middle-aged Black women supporting each other? Drama isn’t exclusive to shows that appeal to women. The best part of a hockey game is when a fight breaks out. It’s often just as petty, so why are sports like hockey or rugby not scoffed at?
Media with predominantly male audiences are looked at differently, as fans of “Mission: Impossible” are not belittled as much as “Twilight” fans. Even when women attempt to enter these male-dominated spaces, they are pushed to the outskirts and ignored. Franchises like “Star Wars” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe have women in their cast and crew, but they are often harassed and disregarded. When women find fandoms without this ostracization, they are still hated because it is not something men deem to be high culture.
This doesn’t only affect media about women. “Heated Rivalry”, a show about hockey rivals who are queer, suffered the same fate. The show’s fanbase consists almost entirely of queer people and straight women. The New York Times reported that by the finale, two-thirds of the viewers were women. The show resonates with female audiences because it doesn’t feed into toxic masculinity or unbalanced power dynamics so often seen in heterosexual romances. It is important to note that straight women have also fetishized the show by objectifying the characters. Fans like this take away the queer impact of the show by appropriating it for a straight audience.
Though the romance genre has been looked down upon because of its mostly non-straight, female audience, it is nonetheless important. The romance genre offers its audience an escape from the perils of modern dating. Plots are driven by emotion and human connection, tapping into a desire to love and be loved. The genre gives its audience a place to support that.
Whether the entertainment is directed at men or women, audiences should be respected regardless of gender or identity. Media for women should be taken as seriously as mens no matter the subject material. The sooner we stop disparaging women’s entertainment, the sooner we can understand and bridge the divide between different audiences.
